1. Student Opinion | Climate change
January 2017

2. Introduction Background
Since April 2014, the National Union of Students (NUS) has been tracking students’ attitudes towards climate change. This report presents the results from surveys carried out in April, June and September 2014; January and April 2015 and March, June, September and December 2016.
The questions are based on a nationwide tracker survey carried out by the Department of Energy and Climate Change since 2012.
Methodology
The surveys were distributed through NUS’ database of NUS Extra cardholders and formed part of a wider omnibus survey containing questions on a variety of topics. Respondents were incentivised to complete the survey with a cash prize draw. Responses have been weighted to reflect the demographic make up of the UK student population.

3. Attitudes towards climate change
Through the survey, we have tracked student concern about climate change and its effects…

4. Respondents have consistently shown high levels of concern about climate change throughout all waves of the survey with approximately three quarters saying they are fairly or very concerned. However, the most recent results (Dec 2016) show levels of concern to have reached the highest level recorded (82%), this is a statistically significant increase compared to responses in September 2016.
D2. How concerned, if at all, are you about climate change? [Responses shown for very or fairly concerned]
* Statistically significant increase from September 2016 (at the 95% confidence level)
Base : In brackets Balance: No response or not concerned

5. When asked how they thought they would be personally affected by climate change around 2 in 3 felt concerned that climate change would affect them. This has significantly increased during the latest stage of research where 79% say they are concerned.
D1. How concerned, if at all, are you that climate change will affect you? [Very or fairly concerned]
* Statistically significant increase from September 2016 (at the 95% confidence level)
Base : In brackets Balance: No response or not concerned

6. Approximately two thirds of respondents believe that we are already feeling the effects of climate change in the UK, for example 66% of respondents in December 2016 said this.
D3. When, if at all, do you think the UK will start feeling the effects of climate change?
Base : In brackets Balance: No response

7. Climate change and government
We’ve also asked respondents what they thought about government policy and action on climate change, nationally and internationally…

8. Respondents also indicate a desire for action from government on climate change. In December 2016 three quarters of respondents say they would be likely (likely and highly likely) to vote for the government if they increased action to tackle climate change. 37% say they would be highly likely to vote, a significant increase on the September 2016 score of 28%.
D4. How likely would you be to vote for the Government if they increased action to tackle climate change?
* Statistically significant increase from September 2016 (at the 95% confidence level)
Base : In brackets Balance: No response

9. Around one in four students say they know what the UK Government is doing to address climate change. Fewer than one in five however agree that the UK Government is taking a lead in addressing climate change, that it has set a positive example that has encouraged them to take action or encouraged them to take it seriously.
Male students are significantly more likely to agree or strongly agree
Male students & students from outside the EU are significantly more likely to agree
Students from outside the EU are significantly more likely to agree
Male students are significantly more likely to agree compared to females
Base: On individual questions Balance: No response [April 2015]
Q. How strongly do you agree or disagree that…

10. Ahead of the Conference of Parties meeting in Paris in December 2015 (COP21), 86% said that governments around the world should at least take ambitious action to combat climate change, with just under half (45%) feeling that they should do whatever it takes. Only 1 in 20 (5%) said that governments should not substantially change what is done now.
Base: 1399 Balance: No response [September 2015]
Q. In December 2015, the governments of more than 190 countries will meet in Paris to discuss a new global agreement that will enable us to combat climate change effectively and boost the transition towards resilient, low-carbon societies and economies.
How should the governments from across the world react to reach an agreement?

11. While over half of students (55%) agreed that the UK Government should take a lead in the climate change negotiations in Paris in 2015, only 17% agreed that they know what the UK Government is proposing. Nearly 2 out of 5 respondents (39%) disagreed when asked whether they knew what is being proposed, and over a quarter (27%) were not sure.
Base: See individual questions Balance: No response [September 2015]
C5. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

12. Students and climate change
For further information about this research, please contact Rachel Drayson, Insight manager – sustainability, at